Isis militants have spread their activities beyond their original base in the eastern province of nangarhar in an attempt to expand their foothold in the country, as the taliban seek to stop them. For that reason, isis in afghanistan must be countered. By jessica lewis mcfate, rob denaburg, caitlin forrest. Khurasan, islamic state, alqaeda, taliban, afghanistan, pakistan. A series of deadly terror attacks in sri lanka has highlighted the need for strengthening counterterrorism cooperation across south asia, writes viraj solanki. The emergence of isis in afghanistan however thin or imagined nonetheless further alters the complexity of. While the islamic state in khorasan isk gained strength in afghanistans nangarhar province starting in mid2014, taliban and private militia offensives, as well as u. In a special report, frontline correspondent najibullah quraishi reveals on film the degree to which isis is gaining a foothold in the country, and how theyre focusing their efforts on. The return of isis in iraq, syria, and the middle east. Tactics, techniques, and procedures of the islamic state.
Is penetration in afghanistanpakistan universiteit leiden. And theres a competition over who has the leadership over the ideology of jihadism and the fact that the taliban have been facing you know stress and strain in terms of their movement. Assessment of threat for afghanistan, pakistan and. Isis afghanistanbased affiliate has emerged as a major threat capable of carrying out direct attacks on the us and is actively using its members social media to.
Isis has 1,000 to 3,000 fighters in eastern afghanistan trying to establish a base, u. The islamic state in afghanistan geopolitical futures. Pdf how far can isis go in afghanistan radhika halder. This week, isis attacked a unit of elite afghan bodyguards in central kabul, which killed at least six, including civilians. Although on the ropes in afghanistan, the group can still strike in the. Isis makes inroads in afghanistan, pakistan foreign policy. Aq and the islamic state is, also known as isis, isil, or daesh. The affiliate, wilayat khorasan, controls populated areas in afghanistans eastern nangarhar province and has.
Islamic state of iraq and the levant khorasan province. The army university press is the armys entry point for cutting edge thought and discussion on topics important to the army and national defense. The quick rise of is in iraq and syria not only jeopardized peace in both. Pakistan and other south and central asian countries are strong enough to ward off any attempt by isis or its affiliates to make significant inroads.
Isiss encroachment into pakistan and afghanistan comes at a time when extremism and the violence waged under such ideology, might be at its peak in both countries. The islamic state isis temporarily managed to win over disgruntled elements among the afghan and pakistani taliban alongside youth from the. The attack resulted in death of a tajik border guard and a police officer. Islamic state khorasan province iskp in afghanistan institute of. The usefulness and complications of isis in afghanistan. Alqaedas presence in afghanistan has not occurred in a vacuum. The defections took place months before the islamic state formally announced its caliphate and at received little attention initially despite one of. Alqaedas footprint inside afghanistan remains a direct threat to u. Isis afghanistan based affiliate has emerged as a major threat capable of carrying out direct attacks on the us and is actively using its members social media to acquire contacts in the united. Around twenty isis militants from afghanistan conducted an attack on a border post in tajikistan after crossing into tajikistan from afghanistan. Isis and the taliban not spreading in afghanistan is also contingent upon the stability of the government and the strength of afghan security forces, who seemed to. The taliban and isis by jessica lewis mcfate, rob denaburg, caitlin forrest key takeaway. The emergence of isis in afghanistan, along with the impending withdrawal of usnato troops from the country, has driven the taliban into a marriage of convenience, if. The footage from the upcoming frontline documentary, isis in afghanistan is some of the first to show the degree to which isis has gained a foothold in the country, introducing a.
Now isis declares war on the taliban in afghanistan. The islamic state in khorasan province iskp is a branch of the salafi. Afghanistan 2 country reports on human rights practices for 2018 united states department of state bureau of democracy, human rights and labor and 3,500 injured to antigovernment actors. And theres a competition over who has the leadership over the ideology of jihadism and the fact that the taliban have been facing you know stress and strain in. Islamic state attacks show group is intent on killing. However, even in afghanistan, isis is unlikely to become as potent as it is in iraq or syria. For the top ideologues of salafi jihadism, such statements and actions are sacrilegious, smearing. Spokesmen for general dostum and for the taliban both confirmed that mr.
In order to strengthen afghanistans capabilities as a partner, and to improve the lives of the afghan people, we continue to invest u. Militant forces including taliban factions and the islamic states afghanistanpakistan affiliate, wilayat khorasan, control considerable terrain across afghanistan as of. Pdf at the height of its power, isis was perceived as the biggest contemporary terrorist threat to world security. Jean mackenzie and aziz ahmad tassal, isis in afghan istan is like. Afghanistans geography, complex ethnic makeup, and recent history of conflict, instability, and decentralized government have created space for the activities of a number of regional armed groups. An immediate counterstrategy is needed to avoid inevitable high costs if the group is allowed to grow and develop. Areas of operationsis khurasan is the provincial division of the islamic state designated for the nations of uzbekistan, afghanistan and pakistan encompassed under a single jurisdictional authority, wilayat khurasan.
Around twenty isis militants from afghanistan conducted an attack on a border post in. House of representatives on afghanistan s terrorism resurgence, concluding that improving afghan governance, not merely beefing up. Nangarhar province along the afghanistanpakistan border, and kajaki district of southern. The taliban and isiskhorasan province isisk used children as. Nemat had left the taliban, joined general dostums side, but then gone over to the isis camp. Isis and the third wave of jihadism current history. The emergence of islamic state is in iraq and syria would have far reaching implications for global peace and security. Through its suite of publication platforms and educational services, the. Relations with afghanistan united states department. The taliban and isis are still powerful forces in afghanistan.
The army university press the us armys premier multimedia organization focuses on advancing the ideas and insights military professionals need to lead and succeed. Iskp conducted two suicide bombings in kabulm afghanistan 29 killed, 50 wounded. Al qaeda and islamic state affiliates in afghanistan. Assessing the footprint of the islamic state in afghanistan and its scope in the future. In tangled afghan war, a thin line of defense against isis. Policy congressional research service summary the islamic state is, aka the islamic state of iraq and the levant, isilisis, or the arabic acronym daesh is a transnational sunni islamist insurgent and terrorist group that controlled large areas of. However, in the ensuing firefight fifteen isis militants were killed and five were arrested. Fighting in northern afghanistan between the taliban and the islamic state of iraq and syria isis or daesh has greatly escalated recently.
Afghanistanpakistan border region also enable isis directly to challenge. Russia, taliban share intelligence in isis fight cnn. So what has happened with the arrival of isis in the region in afghanistan in particular, is that the taliban are facing a challenge. The affiliate, wilayat khorasan, controls populated areas in afghanistan s eastern nangarhar province and has.
It looks on the muslim brotherhood founder as an infidel and at the taliban as an infidel. Iskhorasan islamic state of iraq and ashshamkhorasan isisk isil in afghanistan. This break up has sharply reduced the fighting against isis in iraq, and in eastern syria. Isis attack on sikh gudwara in kabul kills 25 the interior ministry says a lone gunman rampaged through the place of worship an afghan sikh woman mourns for her relatives near the. Russian president vladimir putin turns to an old enemy the taliban to share intelligence as the number of isis fighters grow in afghanistan. The head of the islamic state groups afghanistan affiliate has been arrested along with 19 other militants. The rise and stall of the islamic state in afghanistan united states. Taliban, isis battle for influence in afghanistan youtube. The islamic state in afghanistan middle east institute. Two recent attacks in afghanistan the talibans siege of the intercontinental hotel in kabul on jan. The isis offensive appears to be partly in response to steppedup operations by us special forces and the afghan army to root out its fighters in deh bala and other.
This brief assesses the viability of is in afghanistan and whether it poses. Pdf this paper examines the rise of the islamic states branch in the. Isis and the third wave of jihadism 341 aladnani, to a request more than a year ago by rival militant islamists in syria who called for isis to submit to a sharia court so that a dispute with other factions could be properly adjudicated. The scourge of human trafficking narrated by david strathairn full episode duration. This product outlines major terrorist groups affiliated and allied with al qaeda aq and the islamic state is, also known as isis, isil, or. It is more doctrinaire, less accommodating of nonsalafi trends. The nature of the war in afghanistan has shifted dramatically in recent months. The united states military dropped its most powerful nonnuclear bomb on an isis compound in afghanistan in april 2017. Us officials warn isis afghanistan branch poses a major. The islamic states future in afghanistan beginsadat center.
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